Steadicam Archer: Finding the Right Arm Adjustment

The Steadicam Archer comes equipped with a G-50 arm. The G-50 arm on the Steadicam Archer has a lifting capacity of 10 to 50 pounds. To adjust the arm of the Steadicam Archer, you will need to be wearing your Steadicam Archer. Unless you are making side to side or in-out arm adjustments, you will not need any tools to make arm adjustments on your Steadicam Archer.

When you are adjusting the arm on your Steadicam Archer, you should always adjust the forearm section of the arm first. This tutorial will go over various arm adjustments so that you can test them out and find the right one for you.

Side to Side Arm Adjustments

You will need an allen wrench to adjust the side to side screws on your Steadicam Archer. Generally speaking, when making side to side adjustments on the arm of your Steadicam Archer, you should turn the top screw 1.5 to 2 times. The bottom side to side screw should never be touched. If your Steadicam Archer features a titanium socket block, you will be able to adjust the side to side threads on your arm by using the rollers.

In-Out Arm Adjustments

How much of an in-out adjustment you make on the arm of your Steadicam Archer totally depends on your body type. For example, if you have large pectoral muscles and a rather flat stomach, the top in-out screw should be almost all the way in. As a general rule, the top in-out screw is always adjusted in accordance to your body type. Once you have adjusted the top in-out screw, adjust the bottom in-out screw until it fits snugly against the fitting. The purpose of making in-out arm adjustments is too allow the camera to float when you are standing.

Ride Arm Adjustments

As previously mentioned, the Steadicam Archer features a G-50 arm. The G-50 arm that is on the Steadicam Archer comes equipped with a Geo link. As the arm on your Steadicam Archer booms up and down, the Geo link automatically change the spring tension. The Geo link that is on the G-50 arm is fully adjustable. It is recommended that you make the arm on your Steadicam Archer as isoelastic as possible, but that decision is totally up to you.

If you would like to make the arm on your Steadicam Archer as isoelastic as possible, you will need to set the entire arm to carry the weight of the sled. Once you are standing with correct posture, you will need to boom the arm all of the way up. Booming the arm up allows you to adjust the Geo link, or the ride control. With the arm boomed all of the way up, unscrew the ride control knob a bit and test the elasticity of the arm by allowing the arm to boom up and down a few times. As soon as the arm section begins to lock, you will need to screw the ride control knob back in as many times as you unscrewed it. You will need to adjust the ride control knob for both sections of the arm.